The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-27
TO WOUND MEN, NOT TO KILL.
Why It IL Better to Disable Enemy thai
to Stay Him-The Effect Of Weapons.

Why It IL Better to Disable Enemy than
to Stay Him-The Effect of Weapons.
Washir gton Star
"Is not this Indicative of a change in the ethics
OF modern warfare?" asked reporter, the oSher
day, OF a wel-known army officer connected
with the War Department He vas calling the
officers attention to an item giving an account
of anew Swiss gun. aud which said: lowing TO
the smooth surface of the steel-clad bullet it is
believed that the wounds inflicted will be much
more readily hesled."
No" replied the officer, promptly, that is not
q change. Ii has been always believed by modern
military men that the killing of the enemy is less
desirable than wounding them Now. there is but
one thing to be attained when a conflict occurs
between two bodies of troops. You,
hand. are endesvoring 20 secure some advantage
by forcing your enemy from an important posi-
ton. while they, of course, are equally DESTROYS
OF repelling you and securing your place. The
first and only way of accomplishing this end
forcing them TO retreat. There are three
means OF demoralizing an army-hrst.~
the cannonade, which does comparatively
little physical damage, but inspires in the hearts
OF many of an advancing defensive force q
feeling of fear that often results in q speedy
panic and fetreat then comes wound which
has more of a moral effect than you might sup
pose a wounded man always wants and al
ways gets a great deal of sympathy from his
comrades who. seeing his condition. are very
apt to be seized with sudden desire to show
generosity toward the poor fellow. and to help
him to the rear. wounded man often means
three men out of the ranks, while a dead man
counts but for one. And so. for this reason,
killing is put last in the list of desirable demon
alters, as 1t is considered a useless barbarity.
The Chinese have the same theory, it would
seem, in regard to warfare They have
rangement known by the ipelegant but express
i've name of 'stinkpot.' 1t is a concentration Of
diabolism and odor. The only use. of course,
to which II can be put In a contest is for demon
alizing the enemy. There are but few men who
could march through the atmosphere created by
the invention of the surprising brain of tbs
heather Chiuse. Tine old Greek fire. was partly
for destruction and much for decentralization.
The Roman idea of battle purely sanguin-
airy. Now. to down this
bullet. The chances OF death from
wound resulting from il considerably
reduced, owing the fact that
leaving the gun it's surface is comparatively
smooth. The lead is covered by thin sheet of
STEEL which readily takes the rifiipg of the bors
aud does not emerge with jagged edges which
tear ard irritate the wound and increase the
liability of death. The rif1ne of the enn is also
curious. Heretofore it thought that a
rifle of one turn in fifteen inches all that
could be safely secured. 1t believed that
nything sleeper would cause a choke. Now
this Swiss gun is rified with one turn in four
inches, which is unparalleled in the history OF
the making of small arms. This iDsures great
accuracy of aim, which in turn enables a marks
man to wound antagonist rather than kill
him outright"